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stevie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Racism, Xenophobia, Death of parent, Cancer, Car accident, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Hate crime, Infertility, Misogyny, Genocide, Pregnancy, Chronic illness, Classism, Abandonment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Ableism, Abortion, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Violence, War, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Child abuse, Child death, and Terminal illness
savzilla's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Abandonment, Alcohol, Bullying, Child death, Miscarriage, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Infertility, and Police brutality
lindseyhall44's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Pachinko was one of the best books I read this month, and I think everyone should read it once in their life. Although parts are slow, Jin Lee crafted a thought provoking historical piece revolving around family and identity.
Pachinko follows four generations of a Korean family, beginning in the 1930’s and spanning up until the 1980’s. In a time when Japan occupies Korea, and after the effects of occupation linger, the family experiences discrimination, eventually questions the idea of home. In the end, I believe that home may be a place, but it’s overall, with those you love.
The character depth of these characters was done phenomenally well, each offering a unique perspective on being a Korean Japanese citizen. The line between nationality and ethnicity sparked an interesting conversation, once which has parallels to todays day and age.
Please read it if you have not done so already, you will not regret it!
Graphic: Xenophobia, Abandonment, Colonisation, Adult/minor relationship, War, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Infidelity
Moderate: Addiction, Misogyny, Cancer, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, Alcoholism, Stalking, Infidelity, and Classism
Minor: Domestic abuse
ntvenessa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Chronic illness, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Gore, Grief, Hate crime, Infertility, Infidelity, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, War, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Ableism, Abortion, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cancer, Suicide, and Car accident
Minor: Child death and Homophobia
samantha_rh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: Suicide and Abandonment
peachani's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, War, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Ableism, Chronic illness, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Police brutality, and Violence
Minor: Abortion, Addiction, Alcoholism, Car accident, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Trafficking
navayiota's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Abandonment, Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Bullying, Colonisation, Cursing, Death of parent, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Suicide, War, Xenophobia, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Car accident, Infidelity, and Miscarriage
lschmidt's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
As someone who knows very little about Korean history, this book ... teaches us a chapter of modern history we might not have been aware of.
Many Koreans found themselves forced to move to Japan to find jobs for their families, but they faced discrimination and disgusting living conditions when they arrived. Pachinko, we soon find out, is a kind of Japanese arcade game, and working in a pachinko parlor was considered a typical job for a Korean looking to get ahead. Many Japanese looked down upon pachinko parlor workers, viewing them as shady and dishonest, and owners of pachinko parlors were often referred to as "gangsters".
It was both interesting and deeply saddening to hear about what these people went through, how easy it was for Koreans to be imprisoned indefinitely without trial. And after years of hardship and discrimination, after pushing through and finally earning enough money to have stability, many could never go back. Korean-Japanese (third, fourth, fifth generation even) were refused citizenship in Japan but most came from North Korea, a place they could no longer safely return to.
The fictional characters the author creates come sparking off the page - from the resilient Sunja who once foolishly believed in the love of an older man, to Noa who will never quite recover from the dishonor of his lineage, to Solomon who is still trying to escape the negative stereotypes associated with Koreans many years after his grandmother arrived in Japan. It is a heartbreaking story and, sadly, much of this book was the reality for many Koreans.
Moderate: Abandonment, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Car accident, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and War
skyslibrary's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
Minor: Abortion
emmagreenwood's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Death, Abandonment, Sexism, Suicide, Infertility, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Death of parent, Grief, Violence, Abortion, Racism, Bullying, Chronic illness, Torture, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Terminal illness, and Xenophobia
Minor: Medical trauma, Homophobia, Infidelity, Confinement, Alcoholism, Colonisation, and Alcohol